The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-11-18

and read the communications inclosed
There was momentary cloud upon Spies
face as he threw one Of the letters he had re-
ceived upon the table He sat another
moment in deep thought and then requested
the death watch to send for the sheriff.
Mr.. Matson responded with alacrity, and
after a brief whispered conversation the ex-
editor handed over the two letters and the
sheriff placed them in an inner pocket of his
coat. Spies also expressed a desire for a
drought Of Rhine wine and a messenger was
dispatched across the street with instruc-
tions to procure quart of the best quality.
Returning to his table, Spies again COM
menced to write, while Parsons Engel and
Fischer sat with gloomy expression look
ing out into the corridor. Word was brought
in that Mrs. Parsons, Mrs. Holmes and two
children of Mrs. Engel, Mary Engel and
Edna Mueller had come to the Illinois street
guard and were refused admittance They
then went to the Clark street Gordon Of
police, but not having passes, were not per-
mitted to pass. Word also came that they
INDUCED in some vehement yet fearful talk
about the execution OF innocent men.
At 9:l5 two new suits of clothes were
brought in for Spies and Engel and taken to
their cells. They were full suits of plain
appeared on the CELERY overhead and peered
down into their cells.
At 9:20 Sheriff Matson arranged the fol-
lowing guards around the scaffold, with
Deputy Cahill in charge; Frake, Halke,
Bears, Gross, Moran, Hamilton, Foley,
Scantan, Mccartney, Brainerd, Healy, Car
olan, Freise, Lynch, Dooley, Walbridge,
WALL Kerns and Price. At 9:3O DR.. Gray
arrived He tarrisd at the jailer's Office
moment and then went to Spies
cell. The sun was now in position where
1t streamed in through the skylight, and
Parsons, Fischer and Engel were bathed in
its rays At 9:S5 DR.. Gray visited each cell
and administered medical stimulants to the
inmates. Word was brought into the Jail
that Mrs. Parsons, with her two children and
Mrs. Holmes, presented themselves at the
Dearborn avenue entrance and demanded to
see her husband She was refused admit
tance, and, declining to go away, the four
were placed in patrol wagon and taken to
the Chicago avenue station. Spies drank the
stimulant handed him by the doctor almost
greedily, while the others accepted the
glasses without demur and drained them to
the bottom. then t9:40 o'clock) Fischer,
Engel and Parsons commenced to pace
up and down their cells, while Spies leaned
against the wall away bscb in his
cage, only tie edge of his cardigan JACKIE,
being visible from the office of the Jail
While DR.. Gray was with the men he was
joined by DR.. Meyer. who spoke words OF
courage to each. When Sheriff Matsor
came out he stated that all the condemned
had written letters to the members of theiI
families and other friends which had beer
intrusted to him for personal delivery. Al
| 10 O'Clock Deputy Sheriff Gleason hurriedly
entered the office with letter. which h'
| passed to Spies The superscription was il
| feminine hand He read it without {
| movement of his facial muscles. All thi
time none but representatives of the pres
had been admitted to the Jail office. Tn,
tickets Of admission notified the holder
to present themselves at the ILinoi
street entrance at 10 o'clock, but, IL
order that the reporters-and there wer'
near hundred OF them-should not b'
crowded. II was decided to keep the holder
of the general tickets in the jail yard unit
the moment for the execution arrived. Thi
arrangement was an admirable one for tn
newspapers, who at previous executions il
this building have been compelled to per
form their duties under great difficulties
1t was not relished, however, by the othe
l
air and stamped their feet TO peep the bloo'
In circulation,
At 10 O'Clock two telegraph dispatche
were taken to Parsons. just as the dis
patches had been taken in the sound Of sing
ing in cultural voice broke upon the ear
OF those gathered In the Office. in an instan
all was Us still as death. The voice was tina
Of Fischer, and he was standing at his ce
Il fha lats wi
all the strength of his powerfr
lungs. There was smile upo
his face, not one Of cynicism, but hearty
open faced smile. as that of man who wa
entering heart and soul into the sentiment c
the words he was singing. He sang tw
stanzas Of Rouget de L'lsle's famous song {
the French revolution, and then subsidec
None Of his comrades joined in the choru
/ although the faces OF Parsons and Spit
frightened up and they listened intentl
until the notes had died away. Schwal
who many a time in days gone by had joine
in the chorus at the meetings OF the Interni
tional association, was considerably exc
cised by the episode, and paced up and dow
his cell with energy. Fischer was talkin
with his death watch. He said last night
! dreamed Of Germany aud his happy chill
hoods home.
Just then a loud noise was heard 1t WI
! deputy testing the scaffold with sand bag
Engel came 10 the door Of his cell. i
knew what the sound meant, and winked
I his death watch Rev. DIR. Bolton Q0;l
again visited one after another OF the cell
; but from none of the condemned men did
receive word Of encouragement Deput
Sheriff Gleason called Capt Bonfield asi'
and asked him anxiously about The crow
! on the outside and the probability Of troubl
/ The captain replied that all was quiet al
that ths polies were fully able To- cope vii